The effects of smoking on postoperative recovery

Cigarette smoking: a risk factor for postoperative morbidity and 1-year mortality following craniotomy for tumor resection

“…It remains unclear how smoking may influence LOS. There are studies such as one performed by Handlin and Baker 17 that have shown that smokers may require longer recovery times in the intensive care unit and prolonged LOSs. However, a randomized clinical trial conducted by Møller et al 30 showed no significant difference in LOS according to smoking status.…”

Perioperative respiratory events in smokers and nonsmokers undergoing general anaesthesia

“…the course after re-transfer to the ward) (11)(12)(13)(14), immediate perioperative problems (i.e. during anaesthesia and during the stay in the recovery unit) are somewhat neglected (15).…”

Double-blind, randomized trial of cessation of smoking after audiotape suggestion during anaesthesia

“…Smoking has well-recognized health risks which are often accentuated in the perioperative period [1,22,[28][29][30][31][32]. The pathophysiological changes that are detrimental to anaesthesia and surgery include increased carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations (and therefore decreased oxygen-carrying capacity), tachycardia and hypertension, increased respiratory secretions and irritability of upper airway reflexes, and decreased immunological function (neutrophil activity, immunoglobulin concentrations, natural killer cells) [28].…”

“…The pathophysiological changes that are detrimental to anaesthesia and surgery include increased carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations (and therefore decreased oxygen-carrying capacity), tachycardia and hypertension, increased respiratory secretions and irritability of upper airway reflexes, and decreased immunological function (neutrophil activity, immunoglobulin concentrations, natural killer cells) [28]. Adverse effects have also been documented during the recovery phases, with impaired wound healing [30], respiratory complications [33,34] and increased length of stay in the recovery room [31]. It is clear that smoking is an important risk factor for anaesthesia and surgery.…”